undertake a journey to the lower world on his arrival at Cumae, that father and son may confer together there, and that Aeneas may learn what Fate has in store for him and his descendants. The remaining ships, with the hardier spirits on board, at length set sail once more for Italy.

VI. On reaching the shores of Cumae, Aeneas makes his way to the temple of Apollo to consult the sibyl Deiphobe. In response to his appeal for aid, she gives him directions for finding the golden bough which is to be his passport in the under-world, and, when he has found it, accompanies him on his journey thither. Having offered due sacrifices to the gods of the lower world, they enter together the mouth of the cavernous passage which leads to the realms of Pluto. Passing on their way the shadowy forms of many monsters of appalling aspect, they reach at length the river Styx, and are ferried over its waters by the grisly Charon. Beyond the Styx they find three distinct areas or enclosures: a neutral region including the Fields of Mourning, Tartarus the place of torment, and Elysium the abode of the blest. In Elysium Anchises dwells. Here the sight of the river Lethe and of the vast multitude of spirits that are thronging to drink of its waters leads Anchises to unfold to Aeneas the mysteries of expiation and the transmigration of souls. They go on and ascend an eminence overlooking the moving host, and here Anchises points out to Aeneas his future descendants, as they pass in review, and acquaints him with their destiny. The long line of distinguished Romans includes Augustus Caesar, and closes with the young Marcellus, whose early promise and recent death were fresh in the memories of Vergil's contemporaries. At length, by the ivory gate of exit, Aeneas returns to the upper world and rejoins his companions.

VII. — Skirting the shores of Italy, the fleet of Aeneas at length reaches the mouth of the Tiber. The Trojans land,

gather some native fruits, which they heap up on broad wheaten cakes, and refresh themselves with this food under the hospitable shade of a lofty tree. After eating the fruits, they are about to break and eat the wheaten cakes also, when Iulus exclaims: " Why, we are eating our tables!" This is at once recognized as the harmless fulfillment of the dread prophecy of Celaeno; and for the first time the weary Trojans rejoice in the assurance that their wanderings are at an end. They have reached the promised Hesperia.

At the time of Aeneas's arrival, Latinus is king in Latium. His daughter Lavinia is betrothed to Turnus, king of the Rutuli, a suitor favored by the queen Amata. But Latinus has a misgiving, for the oracle of Faunus, his prophetic sire, has declared that Lavinia is to wed a foreigner and become the mother of a posterity that shall rule the world. Accordingly, when Aeneas sends an embassy with overtures of friendship, Latinus graciously receives the envoys and cordially accepts the proffered alliance.

At this point, Juno again interposes to wreck the fortunes of the hated Trojans. She sends Alecto, one of the Furies, who incites Amata to stir up the matrons of Latium, and afterwards goads Turnus to vengeance. Iulus, too, while hunting, kills a favorite stag, and thereby rouses Tyrrhus, keeper of the royal herds, to fury. At the instigation of Tyrrhus, the peasantry take up arms. A conflict is precipitated in which two shepherds are slain by the Trojans. The whole country is instantly in arms, and Latinus is urged on every hand to declare war against the strangers. Remonstrance is unavailing, and the aged king shuts himself up in his palace and lays down the reins of government.

The book closes with a long account of the mustering of the Italian tribes for war against the Trojans.

P. VERGILI MARONIS

AENEIDOS

LIBER OCTAVUS.

Ur belli signum Laurenti Turnus ab arce
extulit et rauco strepuerunt cornua cantu,
utque acris concussit equos utque impulit arma,
extemplo turbati animi, simul omne tumultu
coniurat trepido Latium saevitque iuventus
effera. Ductores primi Messapus et Ufens
contemptorque deum Mezentiųs undique cogunt
auxilia et latos vastant cultoribus agros.

Mittitur et magni Venulus Diomedis ad urbem,
qui petat auxilium et, Latio consistere Teucros,
advectum Aenean classi victosque Penatis
inferre et fatis regem se dicere posci,

5

ΙΟ

edoceat, multasque viro se adiungere gentis Dardanio et late Latio increbrescere nomen.

Quid struat his coeptis, quem, si fortuna sequatur, eventum pugnae cupiat, manifestius ipsi

15

quam Turno regi aut regi apparere Latino.

1. Cf. Caes. B. G. II. 20: vexillum proponendum, quod erat insigne cum ad arma concurri oporteret. — 3. Cf. V. 146–7 : immissis aurigae undantia lora concussere iugis; also XII. 332-3: sanguineus Mavors clipeo increpat, bella movens. 7. Cf. VII. 647-8: Primus init bellum contemptor divom Mezentius. 12. Cf. Latinus's statement, VII. 272: Hunc illum poscere fata reor.